Hari Om.
Let us begin the twenty sixth sarga of the ayOdhyakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
As rAma broke the news of his banishment to mother kausalyA she was shocked at first as a range of motherly emotions swept through her. On the other hand in the absence of rAma, her own insecurity in the company of other co-wives also stared her at the face. Torn by these two possibilities, she insisted that she wanted to accompany rAma. It is noteworthy that she didn’t question his adherence to dharma and find loopholes therein! Her feeling of helplessness and maternal love made her advance many an argument but rAma insisted that her foremost dharma was towards her husband and that she should serve the king as long as he is alive. Willy-nilly but surely kausalya came to terms with the reality and grasped the steadfastness of rAma in following dharma. Therefore without creating further obstacles on his path, she blessed him profusely as she invoked the latent god in every animate as well as inanimate beings and prayed that they bless rAma for a trouble free sojourn in the forests and that he should return after fourteen years and assume the throne of ayOdhyA and fulfil the wishes of his parents as well as sItA. Blessed with those benedictions rAma took leave of the loving mother and proceeded to the abode of sItA to convey the news to her. Onwards…
Having paid his obeisance to mother kausalya and convincing her of his resolve to go to the forest and taking her blessings, rAma, sticking to the righteous path was on his way to meet sItA. He passed through the crowded streets and the very sight of rAma reminded every citizen of the virtues that he embodied. sItA, busy in her own preparations for the crowning and the associated religious vows had no inkling of the recent developments. She was in anticipation of rAma’s arrival having completed her vows.
Prince rAma entered his abode, well decorated and teeming with happy people. He was somewhat embarrassed and entered there with head bent down. She shuddered to see her husband distressed and anxious. That righteous rAma was no longer able to contain the grief in his mind upon seeing her. His face turned pale and his grief manifested. She could not make sense of this at all. Seeing the long face, sweat all over and the anxiety she asked –
“Oh Lord, what makes you so now? Today the star pushya is ruling and the brAhmins have declared that you shall be crowned today and then what makes you unhappy? How is it that there is no royal umbrella over your charming face and why is that you are not being fanned by excellent fans? Where are those bards and eulogists who announce your arrival early and accompany you? How is that the brAhmins have not performed the vows preceding the crowning upon you? And why are you all alone and not followed by ministers and other important citizens? Why is it that either the grand chariot pulled by glittering and well decorated horses or the mighty well decked elephant not piloting your arrival? Where are those attendants who walk ahead carrying the golden throne reserved for the prince to be crowned? Oh, ready for crowning why is your face so bereft of happiness and so pale”?
Thus sItA shedding copious tears had an elaborate barrage of questions seeing the unfamiliar sight of distressed rAma, even more so as the appointed time of the crowning was well nigh! He said –
“Listen O noble sItA, my venerable father has banished me to the forest. I shall tell you how this banishment came about. My father king daSaratha had granted two boons to mother kaikEyi in the past. And now as the king was busy in arrangements for my crowning, the queen reminded him of the two boons and reminding him to stick to dharma she has force it on him. The two boons pertain my banishment to the danDaka forests for fourteen years and bharata being crowned in place of me as the prince regent. Therefore, I have come here to bid farewell to you before proceeding to the forest. O sItA, be careful not to extol me in front of bharata. Usually men blessed with good intellect do not like the praise of another man in front of them! Never expect special treatment from bharata and conduct yourself in a way to win his favour, especially so since he has been appointed the heir apparent. While I leave for the forest and dwell there, O sItA, be of steady mind, spend your time well in observance of vows and fasts.
Wake up early in the morning, pay obeisance to the gods and then pay your respects to king daSaratha and my grief-stricken mother kausalya. I have received equal love and affection from all my mothers and it is only appropriate that you reciprocate the same towards them during my stay in the forest. Further, shower motherly love on bharata and Satrughna, both of them are dearer to me than my own life.
Now bharata will be the ruler of this land and know that kings like to be served loyally and diligently. If they find someone harmful, they won’t think twice before giving them up even if they are their own children. Similarly they also court strangers if they feel they would be beneficial. Therefore, conduct yourself in way that you don’t upset bharata. Be agreeable to him and live here following your dharma and observing vows.
O beloved sItA, I am leaving for the forest and you dwell here. Never bring displeasure to anyone by your conduct.
Here we conclude the twenty sixth sarga of the ayOdhya kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 2.27. sItA wants to go as well
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 